Re: “Ontario to ‘cautiously and gradually ease’ public health restrictions starting Jan. 31” (Jan. 27, Independent Plus)
To the editor,
This piece shows very clearly how one’s perspective is formed by their own reality. In this case, the views and opinions offered by Premier Doug Ford and Health Minister Christine Elliott are clearly a product of their positions as administrators of the COVID debacle.
An example is Ford’s claim that, “The evidence tells us that the measures we put in place to blunt transmission of Omicron are working.”
Really, Doug?
Is the Ford government mistakenly confusing correlation with causation? If they are simply looking a case counts, then by the same metric Ford could stand at the water’s edge at high tide and joyfully watch it retreat at his command – “See, I told it to recede and it did!” The reality is that the Omicron wave is receding in Ontario just as it did across the world where no such draconian and impotent restrictions were forced upon the people. Mr. Ford, find your backbone and tell the tyrannical, unelected bureaucrats that their 15 minutes of fame is over.
By any standard, in the absence of any scientific basis, the measures announced by Ford and Elliott are plainly and indisputably irrational and meaningless. Other states and jurisdictions are all the evidence you need for removing all restrictions.
The government’s silence and refusal to produce their supporting evidence reinforces the widely-held belief that their suppression of human rights is entirely a politically-motivated response – rather than science-based – to something completely outside of their control and even purview. What makes it even more unpalatable for the people is the government’s and bureaucrat’s disgusting, hypocritical disregard of their own mandates. Apologies don’t cut it.
Furthermore, the words of Elliott are especially grating when she says, “Thanks to the sacrifices of Ontarians we are starting to see glimmers of hope.”
Sacrifices? Since when are the spoils of looters and robbers called sacrifices? The brazen callousness of anyone who would dare confuse involuntary imprisonment with sacrifices! Once again, an apology won’t cut it. Step aside, Ms. Elliott. Ontario deserves leadership, not empty, misdirected platitudes.
Small wonder, then, that there are massive protests against such tyranny rising across the world. Is it understood by government that anarchy springs from bad governance much more than from bad people? When the voice of the people is ignored, then what is left for them to do to correct such determined, systemic injustice?
Rather than this letter merely being a justifiable reaction to the havoc and inconvenience suffered by the people for the past two years, our objection to Ford’s tyranny rises from the irreparable harm to the public’s perception of science and good governance. The unfortunate reality is that alongside the unjust suffering of Canadians, the other real victims of the government’s abuses are the good name of science and the respect for our long-standing institution of a free and democratic parliament. We are losing both of them rapidly.
I close with a big “thank you” to all who gave their encouraging support to my previous letter concerning the nursing shortage. If each of you would pass your comments along to the government of Ontario, it could make a difference.
John Schwartzentruber
Brussels
